Parish Papers eBook

of all earnest labours or self-denial, and which incapacitate
it from apprehending the purity, the majesty, and
the surpassing wonder of spiritual realities.
These are the persons who, forsooth! are so much alarmed
lest their dear children should become excited about
the things which arrest the attention and engage the
thoughts of the mighty angels, yea, of Jesus Christ
himself. Believe it, that whatever excitement
may possibly accompany the commencement of the Christian
life in one who has never been trained to think seriously
or act conscientiously, the only persons in the world
who are habitually free from all excitement, or violent
emotions of any kind, are true Christians, because
they have the “love which casteth out fear,”
and enjoy “the peace of God which passeth all
understanding.”

We must here conclude these brief and very imperfect
remarks upon a great subject. We end, as we began,
by expressing our profound conviction that the
want of all our wants is this, and this only, a Revival
of Spiritual Religion; or, in other words, genuine,
simple, truthful, honest love to Jesus Christ, to
His people, to His cause, and to the whole world!
This, and this alone, will fulfil the longing of many
a weary, thirsty soul for better things than at present
seem probable or possible.

“Who will shew us any good?” is the despairing
cry of many a thoughtful man, as he passes in review
before his anxious eye the dark side of things, such
as careless living students of divinity, who are to
be the future teachers of this great nation; ministers
and congregations apparently dead as stones; churches
becoming idols, claiming the reverence and love of
their members, and jealous of any other idol usurping
their throne; scoffing infidelity among the ignorant;
philosophic scepticism among the intelligent; indifference
among thousands; while abroad heathen nations, with
countless millions, are opened up to the Protestant
Church, which can only send driblets of two or three
missionaries here and there, many of whom go in tears
to live in comfort as well-paid gentlemen, while thousands
of common soldiers pour out their life’s blood
for their country. “Who will shew us any
good?” Our hope, O Lord, is in Thee! “Lord,
lift Thou up the light of Thy countenance upon us!”
Pour Thy Spirit upon the thirsty ground! Our
strength is gone; arise, O Lord, and revive Thy work
among us all. Come Thou and help us, for Thy great
name’s sake. The cause of righteousness
is Thine own. Do Thou hear and help us, then
shall death be changed to life, and truth shall banish
error, and disunion be lost in love, and out of this
valley of dry bones, and from all sects and parties,
a great army will arise, strong and united through
the power of the Spirit who will dwell in each and
all, and be mighty to pull down all the strongholds
of Satan, and to advance the kingdom of our blessed
Lord at home and abroad, to the joy of men and angels!